Sighing with relief, Deputy Marshal Anatt Yasin pressed back into the molded comfort of her seat and stared out from the shuttle’s viewport. The spectacularly rare sunset bathed her face in warm radiance, despite the filters, and helped her relax.
A great deal had been accomplished over the last five years, so she had every right to feel contented. Smiling, she mentally reviewed their progress as her brief journey got underway.
The infrastructure for colonization was now in place. What headquarters had assessed would take ten years to complete, she had achieved in half that time. Beta site—now called Helion because of its elevated position—was fully provisioned and ready to go. As the least perilous region, it would serve as a temporary capital-reception zone until those first pioneering adventurers setting foot on this brave new world decided for themselves where they would like to establish their premier city.
By positioning the main Teleport Hub at that location, Anatt had ensured that each of the thirteen settlements scattered throughout the three main continents could be accessed with relative ease.
And ease of transition was the key to their success.
At Naomi’s suggestion, they had also constructed a working customs and logistics terminal on each of the major landmasses. Doing so would alleviate the sheer volume of traffic flowing through primary focal points as things got busier, and allow explorers to access the various encampments within each sector via their own local network. To facilitate this, the precincts of each terminal incorporated an extensive shuttle port and storage depot.
I can’t believe I almost threw a spanner in the works over that issue! I was so sure it was all too excessive and would slow us down. Thank goodness Naomi had the spine to stand up to me.
Thinking back on the conclusion of that heated discussion, Anatt chuckled. Naomi had stood nose to nose with her, reminding her of the character of initial business:
“. . . While I appreciate scientist and terraformers will no doubt form the bulk of the earliest arrivals, that will change as time goes by. Every outpost will develop and eventually establish their own identity. As they do, they will need room to grow. Properly and safely.
By looking ahead now and viewing those settlements as future hamlets, towns—or even a city—we will guarantee the right road, rail, transport and communication networks are in place from the word go. Thereafter, we won’t have to worry if and when heavy plant or agricultural equipment is needed to extend subsequent modifications. It’ll already be there. Each locus will then be able to expand into its own specialty, at their own pace and in their own way. . .”
Anatt grunted at the memory. It was radical thinking! And spot on too. Thank God she had the guts to force the issue.
Although initially slow, Naomi’s recommendations had proven a great boon to the accelerated development of each site. It didn’t matter whether a region was earmarked for harvesting, economic or industrial use. The huge undertaking was now set to take off, and it would be capable of sustaining future growth for the next twenty to thirty years at least.
Soon, the first civilian settlers would be invited to attend.
I can’t wait. The cream of the world’s scientists is bound to stimulate a fresh infusion of skills that will bring this place to life. It’ll be refreshing to work with some new blood, completing the final stages of our preparations for the ones who really matter: the general populace!
Because of the wilder nature of the flora and fauna on Kalliste, Anatt was aiming for a fifty-fifty balance between psychic and mundane colonists—whatever their specialty—living and working side by side. She hoped such a blending would bring out the best, in them and their unique surroundings. Surmounting differences is still a hot potato back on Earth! And like it or not, international political agenda still exercises a lot of influence over public opinion. If we’re successful here, we’ll be able to hold Kalliste up as a beacon to future generations. Maturation of the human mind will take a great stride forward and pave the way for even grander projects in the future.
A thrill made Anatt’s extremities tingle as she contemplated that prospect. She knew better than most that one day, the human race would be a united psychic family evolving toward transcension. She’d seen it clearly within the Overlord’s mind during their private sessions together.
But that was a long way off. For now, they were still dipping their toes into a very big pond, and anything that made the water more inviting was to be welcomed. I just hope the template we’re offering will be enough.
By now, the shuttle had circled the southern tip of Nerada twice, and was heading toward Viridian, the westernmost continent. The humidity of the jungles covering that region was evidenced by the density of the mists saturating the already thickened atmosphere.
Watching those mists ascend the slopes of the mountains that formed the spine of Viridian, Anatt was reminded as to why they had been called the Vulcan Range. The rapidly rising warmer air, combined with the colder ionized clouds at high altitude, gave the horizon a decidedly ruddy glow. At this distance, it looked as if the whole land was burning.
However, on rare occasions like this, when there was a break in the clouds, you caught sight of its full glory! The brilliant indigo-blue glare of the setting sun was enhanced by the shimmering violet and orange vapors rising past the peaks. The mirage produced a living-flame effect that made it look as if the mountaintops were on fire.
It would literally take your breath away . . . and your sight too, if the protective filters weren’t in place. That’s why they had to be so careful here. Kalliste was certainly beautiful, but she was also hazardous. Just as well I’ve got an Adjutant Marshal who never leaves anything to chance!
Thinking about Naomi again spurred Anatt to cast her mental sight back toward their original Alpha Site at Aeralon.
She had only dropped the young woman off there five minutes ago, but already she could see her aide was hard at work. From the looks of it, preparing the schedules that would ensure the Star Base and its extended facilities would be completed on time.
It was Naomi’s latest pet project, and Anatt had to agree, it was an excellent idea. New arrivals would spend their first couple of weeks acclimatizing to this system aboard the orbiting station. There, they would be educated as to the conditions and the environment they could expect, and indoctrinated with the necessary survival skills to keep them safe.
Then, when they were certified as competent, they would be allowed to complete the final phases on the planet itself.
Very clever!
And of course, things would only get better later in the year when Naomi finally underwent transcension. Roll on the day! I can’t wait to see what she becomes. . .
. . . Probably Deputy Marshal knowing my luck!
Yes, Anatt had every reason to be satisfied.
They were well ahead of schedule; everything was going to plan; and she was determined things would stay that way.
*
If there was one thing the entity now called Esther Perry couldn’t abide, it was the tedium that smothered you in a blanket of soul-sapping lethargy if you allowed yourself to fall into a rut.
Fortunately for her, the past six years had been neither tedious nor lethargic, thanks to one person in particular: Lei Yeung.
Skimming back through the files held on her computer, she could see exactly why it was she’d changed her opinion about him.
The drudgery of being constrained to human form had weighed on Esther more profoundly than her fellow radicals. For some reason, she found the mortal condition to be most unnerving. It made you weak and susceptible to external influences. Even if you were blessed with higher metafaculties, you were still temporary at best . . . unless you were fortunate enough to number yourself among mankind’s elite of course! Then, the strange aberration that engendered true rebirth would change you into something closer to a more natural, godlier personification.
Even so, etiquette required transcended beings to set an example when in the presence of their less fortunate kin by restricting themselves within a disconcerting cage of flesh and blood.
A pointless exercise in Esther’s view.
And yet, for all its inherent drawbacks, being bound to such a coil has never seemed to hold Lei Yeung back? She mused. He’s resourceful, wily, surprisingly strong willed, and ruthless when it comes to achieving his goals and protecting his assets. And despite being limited by a temporary condition, he has become one of the most powerful and influential individuals in history.
Esther reflected more deeply on what she’d learned about this remarkable man. When he was younger, he not only rose through the ranks of a criminal organization that despised people of his particular race, but adroitly created the perfect façade to hide his true—gifted self—behind. Self educated, he’s nobody’s fool. Nothing of consequence goes on without him knowing about it.
His iron grip on the advanced technologies and medical markets reveal a skill for intuitive manipulation that is as insidious as it is discreet. . .
Attributes Esther found especially endearing.
. . .And yet, for all his caution, Yeung never seems complacent. He’s always planning ahead for the unexpected. Wheels within wheels . . . within wheels.
Just look at where it’s got him!
Opening one of her document folders, she scrutinized several press releases highlighting his current standing within society.
Known to humanity as one of their greatest ambassadors for peace, Yeung was lauded globally for his efforts to integrate both the psychic and mundane communities. Molding them into a united, cohesive force for good made him an attractive prospect to investors and businesses alike. Even the world’s military now courted his favors with open arms.
Publicly, Yeung engendered a benevolent profile. He was on record as stating he would be happy to consider martial projects, only so long as their aims remained focused on a universal quest for the ultimate planetary defensive capability.
Behind the scenes, however, Yeung ensured his subsidiary companies pounced on those invitations like a starving cat on an abandoned hatchling, regardless of their objectives.
Brilliant!
Esther never thought it possible for her to have a human as a friend. But I do! And reviewing these records helps to explain why.
Because of Yeung, she had been able to devote her considerable talents to a multitude of worthwhile projects. Tasks that helped keep her focused; keep her sane. Schemes that not only ensured Yeung Industries remained in control of the global markets, but ones that also ensured their collective hidden agendas were well-served too!
Esther brought up the restricted specs on the Delta Class—a new generation of Wave Reader—to support her reasoning.
Designed to provide an invaluable security screen around sensitive venues, the Delta Class now carried an ingenious adaptation tucked away within their hardware. A telepathically activated cipher, that could be used to gain access to the deeper layers of the minds of both mundane and metapsychics alike.
An invaluable tool for the amassing of information.
And it got better.
The very latest Delta Class models to leave the assembly lines had undergone further modification. Looking at the results of what they could now deliver put Esther in a celebratory mood. The compulsive element I managed to sneak into the engram targeters should do the trick nicely. Once it’s embedded within the delivery matrix, we’ll be able to implant untraceable subliminal suggestions into the consciousnesses of those we seek to exploit, making us nigh-on unstoppable!
Scrolling down the list, Esther picked out another example she found to be particularly gratifying. The adapted Mitigating-Mirror Units, dubbed MiMis for short.
Only last year, Esther had started dabbling with biotech enhanced augmentation. While the initial MiMi tests proved encouraging—and had continued apace since then—she was determined to come up with something better; something capable of targeting and eliciting a wider diversity of talents.
Easier said than done.
Nevertheless, she’d been inspired by a paper published in the 2042 Christmas edition of “The Lancet” by Dr. Peter Dyer, regarding the versatility of the upgraded interrogation systems incorporated into the new generation of HaSP monitors.
That had given her an idea.
Following a hunch, Esther had requested that each of the Apostles of the Council undergo a full molecular scan. Using the results of those readings as a template, she was able to assess by what margin their bodies could undergo forced adaptation without surgery. By adding an additional component to the micro-technology already implanted within their MiMis, she was amazed to find she was able to influence the elasticity and efficiency of all her test subjects major muscle groups and organs.
The simple pleasure of reflecting on those amazing results brought a smile to her face.
On average, muscle mass and stamina had been improved by thirty-two percent; reactions, hand-eye coordination, and balance by over twenty-seven percent. Even better, it was now possible to stimulate the nanobots into resculpting their host’s anatomical and facial biography, just by entering a recoding sequence.
So startling was the contrast, that in some cases it was as if they were looking at another person entirely!
Obviously, age was a crucial factor affecting the multiplicity of this outstanding invention. Yeung—for example—could only manage one such profile adaptation, while his younger Apostles could store up to four “portraits” within their implant’s database.
Another handy tool in our growing arsenal, she thought. Especially with the little extras I’ve thrown in.
Most of Esther’s toys incorporated a secret backdoor setup riddled with snares. Snares that were as lethal as they were barbaric. But that explained a lot about Esther’s disposition, for she despised those she viewed as insects; those who were nothing more than an infestation who would capitalize on the hard work of others by stealing, retrograding or replicating her work to guarantee their supposed dominion over their equally insignificant neighbors.
Espionage they called it.
And the humans thought they were so clever.
As she reviewed several of her later assignments, Esther could see how her own prejudice had blinded her to the fact that some of them were clever. And one of them in particular taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my long and inglorious life.
The trinary psi-dent issue proved the point in question quite succinctly.
Esther had already negated the hazards presented by the distinctive auras of her fellow rebels by developing a third helix that could blur their existing psychic fingerprints. Keen to ensure their safety, she had wanted to implement the update immediately.
Notwithstanding the urgency of the situation, Yeung had counseled patience, stating:
“We embark upon our most perilous undertaking to date. If successful, the backlash will be widespread, invasive, and something all of us would wish to avoid. Would it not be judicious to wait until then to adopt your new identities?”
On reflection, Esther had to concede. He was right! But how can someone who’s only eighty years old be so damned sharp . . . what? Literally all the bloody time?
The quantum levitation project only supported her argument.
Esther had shown Yeung the solution to the problems often encountered by physicists when generating a quantized field between two objects more than four years ago. But—true to form—when she presented a working inertialess model shortly thereafter, Yeung had begged her forbearance against full-scale production by suggesting an alternate and more profitable course instead.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
He went on to stress that, by siphoning their latest tech through in progressive stages; they would be able to secure a massive amount of continual funding from all sectors of the transport and aviation industries.
And that’s exactly what had happened!
Lining the Council’s coffers from the profits, Yeung had managed to keep his backers happy during the intervening months by edging them—step by agonizing step—toward the culmination of their dreams. Dreams he assured them would turn to reality in 2045 when the program went fully online.
Fools!
They might think their ideals were now only a short step away, but the truth of the matter would prove quite different. Yeung had confessed to Esther that, while he had every intention of fulfilling his promises, the working prototype he would graciously bestow upon the fawning masses would be prone to regular malfunctions during its first few years of life.
Of course, rectification of those malfunctions would cost his guarantors dearly.
Such a callous manipulator, Esther ruminated, a smile gracing her lips, for someone who isn’t precognitive, he’s an astute little bugger, and annoyingly knowledgeable!
Needless to say, the enhanced and fully operational apparatus would remain the property of the Council, and be put to use in their subterranean complexes around the world until they moved on to something better.
And talking of something better . . . the Orbital Defense Grid is every tyrant’s fantasy made manifest!
Invited to tender their proposal along with a select group of other companies, it came as no surprise when Yeung Technologies won the contract to develop a particle beam accelerator and firing platform. That was largely down to Esther, who picked an old idea she had mothballed as “inefficient” down off the shelf for revitalization.
Inefficient or not, her design was so radical it still outshone every other bid.
A little tinkering saw the newly patented system brought up to speed. In a move that surprised everyone, Yeung Industries announced the global ODG would be installed and ready to launch in the coming New Year.
It was this ability to deliver on their promises so swiftly that had attracted the glut of military backed sponsors and media attention since then.
Regardless, what the joint UN-NASA-ESA-STS subcommittee—and humanity in general—didn’t realize, was that they were throwing a ticker tape parade over nothing, for these supposedly contemporary and groundbreaking concepts were but mere cast-offs. Stop-gaps released to please the public and appease the powers-that-be.
The Council always kept their most sophisticated models for themselves. Just in case.
And Esther loved the fact that Yeung always put their interests first.
Only recently, he’d finalized the inauguration of his latest ghost company. Separate and sanitized from any connection to his other holdings, it was an entity through which the Council would survive if anything ever endangered their livelihoods and aspirations.
In tandem with this project, he had asked Esther to take the lead in establishing a number of covert command bunkers.
Of course, the term bunker was rather a loose one.
Highlighting and enlarging the blueprints now, Esther could plainly see the structures were more like miniature palaces. Underground, armored, and bristling with the most sophisticated weaponry and technology known to man, true! But palaces nonetheless.
It had taken her six months. But it had been well worth the effort, because now they had an extensive network of ultra secure facilities secreted away around the globe that no one knew existed. And, each of those locations was capable of allowing the Council to continue manipulating the markets in their favor . . . and more!
Much more! She giggled.
Delving into a restricted folder, Esther checked over the designs of the SPF—the Specter Protocol Framework—she had incorporated into each site. Installed as failsafe should anything ever go drastically wrong, Specter was not only capable of holding off a small army, but its AI construct could also remotely commandeer a number of the ODG satellites circling the Earth. A brilliant strategy, for which Esther had been given cart-blanche authority.
Keen to learn from past mistakes, Esther had already factored in the inevitable countermeasures that might one day be launched against them. In the event of that happening, she had seeded more than a dozen of the firing platforms with Specter software. On paper, those particular assets appeared to be nothing more than integral links in the planetary defense grid. In reality, they had been adapted to serve as failsafe weapons the Council could unleash at a moment’s notice against their enemies, or to destroy any compromised facility of their choosing.
And as an additional precaution, there were a few more held in reserve that nobody knew about. I guess I must be learning something from Yeung after all?
Of course, once the Guardians started to play, no precaution would last for long. But by then they would have served their purpose.
It had been great fun, and Esther had to admit she’d enjoyed exercising her creative talents more than she’d realized. And it’s all thanks to Yeung. A human!
But sadly—as is often the case—the good times came to an end and Esther had been left wondering what on earth she could turn her talents to next.
Then, out of the blue, Simon had unearthed the existence of something Esther thought lost and forgotten. Remains from one of her oldest, most precious toys from way back when, which appeared to have been turned to a new use in powering the focusing collars of the new Guardian hyper-jump gate in high lunar orbit.
Perfect!
Opening a fresh folder, Esther paused to consider what she would call her new pet project.
*
Although she wouldn’t dare say so out loud, Naomi sometimes thought being the Adjutant Marshal was a crock of shit.
Instead of being out and about, exploring this magnificently, fresh and wonderful world, she was stuck in Aeralon, doing what was expected of her: completing reports.
Damn but I’m a lucky girl!
What made it worse was that she was very good at it. Her ability to compartmentalize multiple scenarios at the same time made her a natural organizer and planner. She was able to complete more—faster—than just about anyone else Guardian Command knew. And sadly, instead of furnishing her with the free time she craved, her invaluable talents only seemed to guarantee yet more work . . . of the brain-rotting variety!
Glancing through the transcript of her latest recording, she decided to add the amendment she had thought of only that morning.
‘. . . AS SOLARIS 1 STAR BASE WILL BE COMPLETED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL AT LEAST ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF THE FIRST MIGRANTS, (AS PER APPENDIX A–ATTACHED), I PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING REVISION OF THE WELCOME ITINERARY FOR NEW ARRIVALS:
THE INITIAL TWO WEEK SOLARIS RECEPTION MODULE IS TO BE CUT TO JUST EIGHT DAYS.
NOTE: -
THIS ENTIRE STAGE IS ESSENTIALLY AN EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE. IT IS ESSENTIAL TRAVELERS ARE INDOCTRINATED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE DANGERS INCUMBENT TO THIS SYSTEM. IN PARTICULAR, THE ELEVATED UV HAZARD AND THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING SAFETY PROCEDURES. ONCE APPRISED OF THE RISKS, COLONISTS MUST THEN PASS A NUMBER OF WRITTEN TESTS TO CONFIRM THAT, IN THEORY AT LEAST, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS THEY WILL ENCOUNTER ON THE SURFACE.
ALTHOUGH INDISPENSABLE, I FEEL THE DURATION OF THIS MODULE CAN BE REDUCED AS PARTICIPANTS WILL BE BETTER SERVED BY THE REAL-LIFE CONDITIONS PRESENTED BY THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF. THEREFORE, I PROPOSE THE SEALING OF A WRITTEN AND VERBAL WAVER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EIGHT DAY PERIOD IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES.
THE PLANNED GROUNDSIDE SEGMENT SHOULD THEN BE EXTENDED INTO TWO PARTS.
PART A: - HELION.
A TWO WEEK PERIOD WITHIN THE PRIMARY PROCESSING CENTER WILL ALLOW NEWCOMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH AMBIENT CONDITIONS FIRSTHAND. EXTENSIVE GYM/CARDIO-VASCULAR EXERCISES MUST ALSO BE UNDERTAKEN, SO INDIVIDUALS CAN BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE EFFECTS OF ELEVATED GRAVITY IN AN ALTERNATE ATMOSPHERIC SETTING.
NOTE: -
MILD CASES OF EUPHORIA/DIZZINESS AND/OR DYSPEPSIA ARE EXPECTED.
HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RIGORS OF OUR VETTING AND SELECTION PROCESS, MORE SEVERE CASES SHOULD BE RARE. THOSE WHO DO SUFFER WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT REGIMENS, TO ASSIST THEM IN ACCLIMATIZING.
PART B: - LOCALIZED.
(THIS APPENDIX HAS BEEN ADDED TO ENHANCE LONG-TERM SAFETY).
I FEEL NEW ARRIVALS WILL BE BETTER SERVED BY ‘HANDS-ON’ FAMILIARITY IN A CONTROLLED SETTING. THEREFORE, THE WEEK SALVAGED FROM THE SOLARIS RECEPTION MODULE, IS TO BE ADDED BACK IN HERE.
ONCE SETTLERS HAVE GAINED A DEGREE OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE LOCAL HABITAT OF THEIR ASSIGNED COMMUNITY, THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO PUT WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED INTO PRACTICE.
A CONTINUATION PHASE OF INDETERMINATE LENGTH WILL FOLLOW UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF SPECIALIST GUARDIAN INSTRUCTORS TO BEGIN WITH, WHO WILL BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO SELECT AND TRAIN THOSE WHO WILL MAINTAIN STANDARDS AS NUMBERS INCREASE. . .’
Naomi glanced through the addendum again, making a few adjustments here and there to ensure continuity of flow and structure. Satisfied, she read it fully, one last time. Yes, that makes much more sense! Pruning and grafting the schedule as required will improve efficiency and ensure we adhere to duty of care requirements. There’s no substitute to actual experience, and everyone will benefit.
Rapt in concentration, Naomi was disturbed by a deep, throaty growl from Lucifer, her pet Quincha.
She had rescued him as a cub from the Paladian Sea just four years previously. Although young, he had already developed his perpetually bad attitude, and had suffered the consequences of attempting to tackle a fully grown Grylar. Resembling an unholy alliance between a polar and grizzly bear, Gylars were to be treated with respect. And all the more so by foul tempered feline cubs with a bad attitude.
Fully grown Quinchas were no slouch in a fight either. Looking much like what you’d expect if a mad scientist crossed a tiger with a hyena, they were the size of a fully grown male lion. And their size belied their speed, as they could cruse at seventy miles per hour and sprint for short distances in excess of one hundred and ten.
But that was an adult. . .
Lucifer had been a mere cub.
Because of his feisty ‘I’m invincible’ character, Lucifer attempted to shoo a female Grylar away from a carcass she was feasting on down at the Silver Cliffs. Not taking her warning growls as a hint, the sparky little ball of wire wool and fluff had stalked right up to the beast and stood toe to toe, challenging her.
The Grylar had put up with his petulant attitude for all of three seconds, before smashing the upstart from sight with one swipe of her huge paws. Lucifer had sailed over the cliff edge, and plunged two hundred feet into the raging sea below.
Fortunately for him, Naomi had seen the incident via farsight and homed in on his pathetic telepathic bleating just before he succumbed to the combined effects of being beaten against the rocks and water immersion. Bonding to her from that moment on, she was the only one he never showed the slightest inclination toward eating.
Even the Deputy Marshal had to stay on her toes around him!
Lucifer had been curled up asleep, and filling one corner of the room with his considerable bulk. Now, his head was leveled straight at the door and the black discs of his eyes burned with the glare of a predator fixated on prey.
Skimming his mind, Naomi saw the object of his obsession and giggled. “Now, now, Lucifer! Down boy! I keep telling you, Grand Master Williams doesn’t like to be viewed as food. Or as a claw post!”
One of Lucifer’s ears twitched and swiveled toward her, the only sign he had paid any heed to his mistress’ admonition.
L-u-c-i-f-e-r! She repeated mentally.
The stern overlay of her reprimand did the trick. Reluctantly, his head lowered onto his paws.
A brief rapping sound intruded as Ben Williams entered. “Hi, Naomi, how’s things in the world of the great and mighty?”
Snorting, she gestured to the pile of documents and message crystals in front of her. “Oh, just great as you can see. This little lot will ensure I never stand a chance of ruining my skin with too much UV exposure. Talk about house arrest!”
Grinning, Ben subconsciously bent to pat Lucifer on the head. A resonating, warning grumble made him think twice about the disadvantage of losing his hand. Altering course, he plunked himself down in the chair next to Naomi and said. “How’d you like to help me out on something? Something that would get you out of the office!”
Seizing his face in both hands, she squeezed his cheeks until his lips protruded like an angelfish puckering up for a kiss, and squealed, “If you could do that . . . I’d be eternally grateful.”
Ben reddened from the neck up. He didn’t have a lot of experience with women, so for Naomi to have clasped him like that obviously embarrassed him.
Sensing his discomfort, Naomi quickly changed tack. Fortunately, she had the very thing to grab his attention. “And to show you how grateful I was…I might have to slip you the name of a demure young scientist who thinks you’re the best thing to come along since sliced bread was invented.”
Perking up considerably, Ben demanded, “What? Who? Where?”
“Whoa! Slow down, big boy! This is priceless information we’re talking about here,” Naomi teased. “I need to see if the goods you’re offering are worth what I have to tell you. But to grease the wheels, I’m talking about someone who is quiet and reserved, like yourself. And like you, she’s a student of theoretical and quantum physics. For some strange, inexplicable reason, she finds gazing at the stars all night better than food.”
“Heaven!” Ben drooled.
Deflating with a sigh, he added, “Where would I find a girl like that, who’s interested in the things I like?”
“Do you know, I appear to have forgotten!” Naomi shrugged, noncommittally. “What on earth would help me remember, do you think?”
“Okay, you win!”
Hunching forward, Ben expanded on his introductory comment, “I was tasked to implement the latest security upgrades. You know . . . the ones that were recommended at the meeting you attended at Headquarters last month.”
“What, the N-Gate technology? To prevent spying by transcended beings?”
“Yes, that’s right! We have the prototypes already, and to tell the truth, the actual implementation should be quite straightforward.”
“So why do you need my help?”
Looking a little ashamed, Ben explained, “Because they have to be positioned tactically . . . and I’m totally useless at that type of thing! You know me. Ask me to build a quantum gateway out of a toothpick and the contents of a woman’s purse, and I’d beat MacGyver any day! But thinking tactically? The closest I can get to that is chess.”
Naomi was intrigued. “So what do you need?”
“At the moment, we only have a limited number of prototypes to play with. Eight targeting scanners and eight emitters. That’s sixteen orbital platforms in total. I thought you might like to take a look upstairs and personally assess how they could best be deployed amongst our grid.”
Her eyes widened. Upstairs, off planet! Out of the office. . .
. . . Thank the God of overworked Adjutant Marshals!
Patting Ben on the knee, Naomi whispered, “Now we’re making progress. You’ve just earned yourself a deal.”
Solemnly, she projected the identity of a recently arrived Guardian Master, assigned to Shadow operations, directly into his mind.
Ben’s eyes popped wide in shocked disbelief. “What! She’s interested in me? Are you sure?”
“Oh yes, Ben. So sure, I’ve already selected the dress, shoes, hat and accessories I’m going to wear at your wedding.
“Anyway, about this visit upstairs. . .”
*
At forty-one years of age, Angelika Papadakos was still an eye-catching and powerful woman. An active lifestyle and healthy diet helped her stay young and she prided herself in the fact that people often mistook her for someone in their early thirties at most.
But she had to face facts. While her vigor had helped her remain a valuable undercover asset, this latest task would have been beyond even her, were it not for the upgraded MiMi nanobots she now carried within her body. Tech that allowed her to modify her appearance into four different characterizations.
On this setting, she had opted for the simplicity of a more youthful version of herself.
Breezing along, Angelika slowed to glance at her reflection in one of the display cases lining the walls of the entrance vestibule to the campus. She smiled. Hello you!
A striking young female—appearing in her early twenties—smiled back.
She giggled and lengthened her gait.
The mirror image reciprocated, keeping pace with ease.
It was as simple a charade as it was elegant. Because this persona drained less energy from her nexus, Angelika could maintain its integrity for five or six days before having to rest. It also explained why she was able to stalk the halls of Cambridge University so easily. She blended with her environment perfectly, and no one gave her a second glance. . .
. . .apart from the admiring looks that showered down upon her from both men and women alike as she sauntered by.
And Angelika had ensured to use her obvious allure to make remarkable progress in the two weeks she had been here.
Her target was a young German undergraduate, twenty-three-year-old Annika Pahmeyer, from Dusseldorf. A certified genius, Annika favored biology and chemistry over the other scientific disciplines. She was also a strong psychic, being blessed with telepathy, healing, and an extremely refined farscan and deepsight faculty.
A background check revealed that Annika had been attracted to Cambridge because of the university’s work on behavioral modification. Evidently, she had lost both parents—her father to Alzheimer’s, her mother to Parkinson’s—just five years previously. However, the debilitating effects those diseases wrought upon the apperceptions of the two most important people in Annika’s life, meant she’d been orphaned long before their inevitable deaths.
It had left Annika with a blunt and cynical view on life, along with a determination to put things right. Yes, great strides were being made in combating such afflictions. Even so, she didn’t feel they were moving fast enough. So, using her personal experiences as motivation, Annika had devoted her young life—along with her gifts and startling insight into the human mind—to speed developments along considerably.
Following her lead, the university was close to producing their first working prototype of a Docilator, a remarkable piece of bioengineering that could directly influence cognitive functioning.
Needless to say, Annika’s labors had come to the attention of the Council.
As such, Angelika had breezed into her life only a fortnight ago, and all of a sudden Annika found herself with a new dorm-mate; someone who was rapidly turning into something more.
When they had met for the first time, the bitterness in the girl’s heart was all too apparent. Skilled operative that she was, Angelika had picked the scabs from that wound and shamelessly exploited the girl’s vulnerability without the slightest remorse.
The Council’s aspirations were of paramount importance. And Angelika always put their objectives first . . . as exemplified by her existing dilemma.
To stay ahead in the ever evolving game, the Council needed a constant influx of fresh intelligence from as many diverse sources as possible. Currently, they sought the particular knowledge that might be locked away within the mind of Angelika’s new boyfriend, Jose.
Being a newly qualified Guardian Inquisitor of considerable strength, they were sure he would have access to certain codes and psi-dent keys that would make their ambitions easier to execute. . .
. . .If they could access them.
The trouble was how to gain that information without arousing suspicion.
As she entered her room, Angelika gritted her teeth in frustration. My problem stems from the fact that he’s a highly compulsive individual with a strong self-healing aspect to his psyche. No matter how subtle my methods, I can’t seem to break through the mental firewall that prevents him from wanting to share his deepest secrets with me.
Even when he’s asleep, or distracted by sex, his ego remains shielded; aware in some arcane fashion of any attempt to manipulate his thoughts or desires.
Shedding her clothes, Angelika turned on the shower and contemplated her earlier efforts to entice Jose into demonstrating the function of one of the latest doctored Wave Readers.
She became annoyed all over again.
If only I could have got him to at least put the damned helmet on, I’d have had him. I’m sure of it! After all, my own capabilities have been technologically enhanced with a highly compulsive element. The last time Esther calibrated them, they were close to Grand Master Class in strength. Add that to the coercive matrix within the Reader and it should be more than enough to allow me to crack him open like a nut. . .
. . .If only.
For some reason, Jose refused to play along, muttering instead about his concerns over his new position and status should anyone find out.
Too many ifs! Men and their preoccupation with image! Is it a dick thing?
The drawback had proved an irritating diversion since.
However, all was not lost. Because of her MiMi implant, Angelika’s own inherent abilities had also been augmented. On the last assessment, her telepathic, remote viewing, and energy-draining functions had maxed out somewhere in the range of a Guardian High Grand Master.
Of course, if push comes to shove, I could just kill Jose and take the information I need from his ruined shell. But the backlash doesn’t bear thinking about. He is a Guardian cop after all. Thank goodness there’s still time for an alternate solution.
Annika and her Docilator program.
It’s taking slightly longer than I anticipated, but, I’m sure it will be worth all the hassle. The intelligence will not only benefit the Council as a whole, but I’ll be able to use what I learn against Jose, and refine the process as I go along in the comfort of his arms. Then, once all the niggles have been ironed out, I’ll be able to present Yeung with a product that will allow him to saturate the world with behaviorally modified sleeper agents. He’ll love having an army at his disposal that won’t have a clue they’re working for him . . . especially in they include weaker-minded Guardians. Perfect!
Well, it will be once I’ve taken what I need from Annika.
Thinking of the younger woman ignited a burning desire deep inside.
Angelika stepped toward the shower and paused to wipe away the steam that had condensed across the floor to ceiling mirror. Looking herself up and down, she made a promise. One way or another, I’m going to use this to get the results I need!